Alexander Zverev on the TV stage: "Beat the star" duel with Heinevetter
After the semi-finals at the US Open, Alexander Zverev faces a special challenge. In "Schlag den Star", the Olympic champion plays against handball keeper Silvio Heinevetter for further sympathy at home.
by SID
last edit: Sep 16, 2021, 04:32 pm
Whatever is waiting for him, a cotton swab battle, swing long jump or ax throwing - Alexander Zverev is sure of victory. "I usually let older men in front, but not in a duel. You can help me as a ball boy in the next tournament," says the Olympic champion before his special TV duel in the direction of Silvio Heinevetter. A rather atypical opponent for the tennis star.
On Saturday evening there will be a meeting between Zverev and the twelve-year-old handball keeper at primetime at 8:15 pm on "Schlag den Star". The showdown in Cologne-Mülheim, undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in the recent past of the ProSieben show, promises great entertainment - and for Zverev another boost in popularity at home.
Zverev on "Schlag den Star": Appearance in front of an audience of millions
After his emotional gold win in Tokyo and the acclaimed return to Germany, he is allowed to present himself to an audience of millions. The boulevard stage on private television offers the 24-year-old the chance to show a side that was previously unknown outside of the tennis scene. The show, which is based on an idea by Stefan Raab, creates closeness because the weaknesses of the candidates - for example in quiz duels - are relentlessly revealed.
The loose slogans flew around in an advertising-effective manner even before the athletes met. "In your free time, when you play golf in Monte Carlo in panties that are far too tight, I play cards and beer mat throwing with my teammates in the drinking round. The really important things in life that can now be an advantage," said Heinevetter to Zverev .
Behind the scenes, however, the recognition is great. "We didn't know each other before, but we've been writing back and forth a little over the past few days. We're both really looking forward to the duel, but we also have respect for it," said Heinevetter to the SID. Tennis fan Heinevetter is most concerned about the length of the show, in which 15 different games with ascending scores are played until the early hours of the morning: "Sascha certainly has advantages there. He knows these five-hour matches."
Zverev: First "Beat the Star", then Laver Cup
While Heinevetter was challenged with MT Melsungen against Füchse Berlin on Thursday evening, Zverev flew to Germany during the week after his semi-final at the US Open. His appearance at ProSieben fits his program well, and the next tennis challenge, the Laver Cup in Boston (September 24th to 26th), has the character of a show. It won't really be important again until the beginning of October at the Masters in Indian Wells.
Until then, Zverev can distract himself. From the painful defeat in New York against Novak Djokovic and also from the allegations of his ex-girlfriend, who repeatedly accused him of physical and psychological violence, which Zverev vehemently denies. The seriousness of life pauses when a tennis star and a handball player throw cotton swabs around on private television.